Job Growth in Solar and Renewable Energy in Double Digits

Looking for a job? Have you considered a job in renewable energy like solar?

Over the last decade, renewable energy has become one of the fastest growing industries. As solar panels become cheaper and tax incentives remain, more homeowners and businesses have been able to take advantage of the lower costs. From manufacturing to installation and everything in between, big names like General Electric are rapidly expanding to build renewable energy infrastructure and keep up demand. The best news is, of course, that it’s providing clean energy jobs for U.S. workers.

While NASDAQ reports that Hawaii, Texas, and California have the largest number of renewable energy projects, the Northeast is quickly catching up. This year, New York took over as the number one leader in solar energy policies, and the rest of the area is right behind them. That shift only means more job creation.

Between all the major solar companies (for example, SolarCity and SunPower), there’s a high demand for medium-skilled workers who can install solar rooftops. Plus, many of the major solar companies that may have just dealt with installation in the past are getting into manufacturing. The same goes for major utility companies like GE. That definitely wasn’t happening a decade ago, but it’s certainly in full swing now.

Bottom line: as costs fall, more people buy solar, leading to more jobs — and we’re only at the beginning of what could be a very long-term trend.

Are you working in solar? Tell us what you’ve noticed in terms of job growth in the comments!